All three of my boys attend Briarcrest Christian School and our school family was hit by a devastating tragedy early yesterday morning. A group of four rising seniors and a grandmother were headed to the beach to celebrate one of the girl's birthdays when a drunk driver hit their car and took the life of two of the girls.
While I did not know the two who were taken from us personally, my oldest did and my middle son is a classmate of one of their siblings. Our school is small and this tragedy was felt by all. From a mother's perspective, I can not imagine the loss, the pain, the hole that must be in their hearts.
I do not know a lot of things. I do not know why they were taken so young, I do not know why the drunk driver had four previous DUI's and was still on the road, I do not know why any parent has to experience the loss of a child. But, I do know that God is in control. God has a plan for all of our lives.
We will not always understand or agree with the plan. But it is His plan and it works for the good of those who love Him. When we have fulfilled His plan for our life he promises us a much better place than what we experience on this earth. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."Revelation 21:4
Rachel's dad spoke at the end of the memorial service today and he asked all of the current and former BCS students to stand. He asked them to live this day forward to honor their best lives. To make sense of the loss of two of their own, to honor life moving forward.
That is my wish for my BCS family, to honor their memory, to lift each other up, to support one another. To live to fulfill God's purpose for their lives.
At the end of the prayer vigil, students released balloons for the girls. Green and gold are the school colors and the green and gold balloons were tied together. Notice how many of the other colored balloons were whisked away quickly? Then the others dissipated. Two yellow balloons lingered a minute, they were separated from the others and did not fly away immediately.
Fly high Rachel and Maddie. Stay grounded BCS students, keep reaching to do your best every day, lift one another up in honor of your classmates and in Jesus name.
"What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up."1 Corinthians 14:26
"So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building." Romans 14:19
Grace and Peace,
Misty
